Generally, the best in the NUIC West has advanced furthest in the postseason.

Last season, Lena-Winslow shocked the conference with a 20-win season and a West championship despite graduating several seniors. But the Panthers fell short of their postseason aspirations after losing to River Ridge/Scales Mound in the regional final.

The Wildcats finished fourth in the West, but reached supersectionals in 2013.

That underscores just how competitive the West was and likely will be again this season.

“It’s going to be pretty competitive and a little more balanced this year,” Lena-Winslow coach Tom Smargiassi said. “Everybody is improved.

“We went from two years ago where it was senior-loaded to last year where there were a lot of new faces with juniors and sophomores playing a lot of varsity ball, with River Ridge/Scales Mound being the one exception. So many schools have so many players back that I think everyone is going to be that much more competitive.”

Lena-Winslow brings back six returning seniors, including catcher Jon Stockton. The All-State power hitter suffered a dislocated elbow in last season’s regional final but will return healthy for this season.

“Watching him in the cage, he’s just hammering the ball right now,” Smargiassi said. “He’s accepted the challenge to try to do even more than last year.”

But the Panthers aren’t the only team bringing back several senior starters. Warren-Stockton brings back eight seniors, including pitcher/infielders Colton Broshous and Jordan Fox, along with catcher/outfielder Jason Heller.

RR/SM graduated seven starters from last year’s sectional championship team, but brings back first-team all-conference pitcher Josh Crist. Le-Win, War-Stock and RR/SM figure to be the teams to beat.

The Panthers want to both win conference and be the last NUIC team standing in the postseason.

“They have expectations for themselves,” Smargiassi said. “They want to do more than what they did last year. Some were around two years ago (when Lena-Winslow reached the state semifinals) and got a taste of the postseason and want to accomplish something like that.”

NUIC West

(Teams listed in predicted order of finish)

Lena-Winslow (20-4 last season) is led by senior pitchers Sean Cory and Ben Moest. Fellow returning seniors Jon Stockton (C), Quinn Sowle (OF), Matt Greene (P-3B) and Josh Prindle (P-INF) will look to help the Panthers stay on top of the West and potentially gear up for a deep postseason run.

Warren/Stockton (12-10) brings back the most seniors of all teams in the West and likely have the most depth on the mound. Colton Broshous (P-Inf), Jordan Fox (P-Inf) and Gavin Leverton (Inf-P) will be the key pitchers for the WarHawks. Other key seniors are Jason Heller (C-OF), Colton Janssen (OF), Gavin Leverton (Inf-P), Devin Pax (Inf), Tony Baltierra (Inf) and Zane Elliott (OF). The experience and talent on this year’s roster should push Jim Nielsen, in his 34th year as coach, toward the top in the West, but the WarHawks may again have a tough road in Class 2A in the postseason.

Page 2 of 2 - River Ridge/Scales Mound (14-10) was a Cinderella team last season that was powered by its pitching. Pitcher Josh Crist and outfielder Stephen Korte will anchor a team that graduated seven senior starters. Crist will give the Wildcats a shot to win when on the mound, but depth and inexperience is a concern. Look for the Wildcats to still end up in the top three in the West.

East Dubuque (9-10) hasn’t had a winning season in two years, but this season the team has eight returning starters, including second-team all-conference players Alec Monahan (OF), Kyle Schultz (Inf) and Alec Schulting (Inf) and honorable mention pitcher Cory Kramer.

Pearl City (7-10) may lack depth, but has good team speed and intelligence. Mike Harrington (C) is the lone senior returning starter, along with four juniors. The most talented junior of the bunch is likely Khyle Brubaker. “He might be the best hidden secret in our conference,” Lena-Winslow coach Tom Smargiassi said. “He’s a top-notch pitcher and how he didn’t get all-conference last year is beyond me.” Peyton Brudi (OF, second team all-conference), Nic Pilson (2B-C, honorable mention), Evan Bull (Inf, honorable mention) and sophomore Clayton Lieb (P-Inf, second team all-conference) will also contribute. Pearl City will be improved and could finish in the top half of the conference.

West Carroll (6-15) will be led by senior pitcher Trevor Jones, who no-hit NUIC West champion Lena-Winslow in a losing effort last year. Jones’ ERA was 2.22 and held opponents to a .183 batting average. The Thunder is one of two teams in the West along with Pearl City that is, at best, darkhorse candidates to finish in the top 3. The biggest reason is because the Thunder lost eight games by a combined 11 runs. Until West Carroll turns the corner on their rebuilding seasons, the expectation is for the Thunder to remain near the bottom of the conference.

Galena (4-18) has six returning senior starters. Senior pitcher Chase Wasson and junior hurler Austin Eilts lead the Pirates, even though the team doesn’t have a ton of pitching depth.